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Canadian weather can seem a bit unpredictable. One minute it's sunshine and warm weather. Next thing you know we're hit with a snowstorm. Don't let the occasional spring-like day fool you - we're still in the middle of winter. And when you consider that insurance claims for damages related to winter storms can run into the thousands, knowing how to deal with ice and snow around your house is just smart.

One of the first things I tell homeowners is to keep snow away from foundation walls. The moisture from snow melting can slowly seep in. Remember, concrete is porous. So when you shovel your driveway, walkways and sidewalks remember to shovel snow away from the perimeter of your home. And make sure fire hydrants, gas metres and dryer vents aren't covered by snow either.

Enough snow on the wrong roof can potentially cause it to collapse. The funny thing is that you want your roof to have snow. If the snow doesn't melt, your attic insulation is doing its job. But if there's enough snow and ice there's the risk of the roof collapsing. Flat roofs are especially vulnerable. Some municipalities even ask homeowners to remove snow from flat rooftops, overhangs and gutters - especially if the area has been hit with a few snow and ice storms.

Some homeowner will use roof snow shovels to remove the snow. These are shovels designed to help you remove snow on your roof from the ground so you're not climbing up on the roof and risking a fall. But shovelling your roof from the ground also has its risks: One, you could damage your shingles. And two, the snow you shovel off the roof could come down on top of you.

If you need to remove snow or an ice dam from your roof call a professional contractor who regularly deals with these kinds of problems.

Taking care of business

Most people worry about injuries happening on their property - and they should. You're responsible for taking the proper precautions, because if someone gets hurt as a result of your negligence you're in trouble. That includes injuries caused by falling icicles, slips and falls. There's even an insurance category called "slip and fall" cases - that's how common they are.

And if you think you're off the hook because you're a renter, guess what - you're not. In some Canadian jurisdictions there's legislation that includes "duty of care." What that means is that the occupier of a home - it doesn't matter if they're just renting - needs to make sure that the property is safe for anyone who has to enter it, such as the mailman or utility service reps.

If you think about the risks, taking care of ice and snow is a no brainer. Save yourself the trouble and stop any potential injuries Old Man Winter might bring to your doorstep.

Snow and ice are slipping hazards - everyone knows this. But shovelling might not be enough. If the temperature drops below freezing or you know a storm is headed your way apply a de-icer on your driveway, walkway and sidewalk. Spread as much as your property's size requires. After the storm, apply more along with some sand to add traction.

De-icers

The most common de-icer is sodium chloride - what many people call road or rock salt. It's the most inexpensive. But there's also calcium chloride, urea, potassium chloride and magnesium chloride. Calcium chloride and magnesium chloride melt ice faster than salt, but they cost more. And calcium chloride is corrosive; it destroys grassroots. Urea and potassium chloride can be found in fertilizer, so they're safe for your lawn. The problem is that urea can be corrosive, and potassium chloride damages concrete. And that's not good.

I'm not a big fan of salt, and there are a few reasons why. One, it destroys your grass. Have you ever seen brown patches of grass at the end of driveways and along the sides? That's because melted snow with salt got into the soil. Two, it can make your pet sick. When I take my dog Charlie out for a walk sometimes he gets salt on his paws. Then when he's back inside he starts licking them. The next day he's throwing up.

The third reason is that salt works best only when the ground temperature is above -9 C (or 15 F). If you know anything about a Canadian winter you'll know that temperatures can drop a lot lower than -9 C. Plus, salt is sensitive to temperature changes. The colder the ground temperature, the less effective it is.

And four, salt eats away at brick mortar. I've seen brick homes where every year the salt eats away more at the mortar, the voids climbing up from the ground with every passing winter.

I'd rather use sand or gravel over salt because they're safer natural alternatives. But no matter what de-icer you decide to go with make sure you read the package and follow instructions.

Catch Mike Holmes in his new series, Holmes Makes It Right Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on HGTV. For more information, visit hgtv.ca. For more information on home renovations, visit makeitright.ca.

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